CALABRIA ~ THE BIRTH OF ITALY

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CALABRIA IS WAITING FOR

YOU! Stilo

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Fiumefreddo Bruzio

San Severina

Tropea

Stilo

Reggio Calabria

Gerace Bova

Catanzaro's Provincial Museum houses outstanding relics, from the Neolithic period to the Greek-Roman Age, and a remarkable collection of coins. In Reggio Calabria, the National Museum holds one of the most important archaeological collections in Italy: Paleolithic, Byzantine and Arab art, relics of the Bronze and Iron Ages, tomb out ts, pictorial tables and the world famous Bronzes of Riace, the two great bronze statues of warriors of the 5th century BC. In Cosenza, one can visit the Museo Interdiocesano, with the treasure of the Cathedral, and the Civic Museum with prehistoric bronzes, Paleolithic manufactured goods and instruments.

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Calabria has a rich heritage from local civilizations: archaeologic excavations have brought to light ancient colonies in Sibari, Crotone, Catanzaro, Locri, and Vibo Valentia. In Cosenza and Reggio Calabria, we can nd remains of the Roman Age, such as baths, theaters and bridges. The religious buildings show Byzantine in uences, dating back to the period when the region was part of the empire of Byzantium. The Gothic style spread dung the thirteenth century, and the Renaissance style is present in a variety of artwork and paintings.

The Baroque in uence can be seen in several monuments

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History

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Art & Architecture

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UNESCO

World Heritage Sites Of all the World Heritage Sites throughout the entire world, Italy is proud to have 58 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the highest amount of any country in the world!

The Sila National Park is dominated by a very important forest in terms of biodiversity and forest ecological conservation.

Proposed boundaries include a rich variety of eco-region endemism, namely plant and insect, and the site is included in the Centers of plant diversity (WWF-IUCN) in the Mediterranean basin, being recognized as the only one plant diversity hotspot area in southern Europe.

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SILA NATIONAL PARK

The Basilian-Byzantine Complex and Sila National Park are awaiting their nal approval, which will be the rst 2

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designated by UNESCO in Calabria.

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BASILIAN The Basilian-Byzantine complexes are a group of religious buildings demonstrating the Byzantine in uence of the Italian peninsula, through the military conquests conducted by Constantinople, and the spread of Eastern monasticism.

Calabria's destiny was linked to the fortunes of the Eastern Empire, constantly changing hands from the Graeco-Gothic War, to the Normans, to Byzantine domination, followed by the Lombards and the Duchy of Benevento.

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While Montecassino Benedictine monasticism became established in the rest of the Lombard South, the Byzantine area of Italy was instead in uenced by Eastern monasticism. Hermits devoted to the isolated quest for God had inhabited the Syrian and Egyptian deserts since the 4th century; subsequently, groups of anchorites introduced cenobitic monasticism. It was here that one of the Fathers of the Greek Church, St Basil the Great, gave Eastern monasticism a systematic order and a rule that constituted a true theoretical and organizational principle.

BYZANTINE COMPLEX

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THE RIACE

The ancient Greek bronzes of Riace were discovered by Stefano Mariottini, an amateur scuba diver from Rome, during a holiday on the Calabrian coast. They turned out to be one of Italy’s most important archeological nds of the last 100 years. The two sculptures look human and divine at the same time, tied in the world

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between reality and myth.

BRONZES

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I BORGHI PIÚ BELLI d’Italia

The Association of "The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy" was formed to protect, promote, and develop the towns recognized as the most beautiful villages in Italy. To be admitted to the Association of "The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy" and use the trademark of which it is the owner, each village must meet certain criteria. Calabria has 15 of these villages.

GERACE

d’Italia In Gerace’s historic center you can still admire the remains of the fortress which protected the inhabitants from external invasions, although its conquerers were many.

In 1059, Gerace was controlled by the Normans.

In 1194, the Cathedral was once more consecrated under the Swabians in the presence of Emperor Frederick II. In 1266, Gerace was conquered by the Angioinians.

In 1480, the Greek cult ritual, an ancient Byzantine inheritance, was abolished in favor of the Latin one.

It changed hands to the Aragonese and became a marquisate and then in 1502 passed to Consalvo de Aragona.

In the 1600s, repeated earthquakes gravely damaged the Byzantine and Norman buildings.

In 1809, the last nobiliary of Gerace were the Grimaldis, who obtained the ef in and who ruled it until the abolition of feudalism.

After a brief pause of French domination, it returned under the Reign of the Two Sicilies, becoming a Bourbon district capital.

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Gerace is the Condelli ancestral home.

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TROPEA

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BOVA

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Legend says that an Armenian queen built the quaint village of Bova on a hill where cows grazed -- hence the name, Bova, which is where we get the English word bovine. Known as the region's "natural balcony" for the mesmerizing coastline scenery, it's located right on the tip of Italy's boot close to Sicily, in the heart of "Greek Calabria" which ourished with settlers from ancient Greece. You’ll even nd the streets are still written in Greek and the local dialect is closer to Greek than Italian!

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SANTA SEVERINA

Santa Severina rises on a tuff rock cliff overlooking the Neto River. It's built in layers: palazzos belonging to the richer families at the top of the hill, with the humble dwellings below, dug into the rock.

Additionally, there’s a Greek and Hebrew district with palm trees.

The baptistery here is the oldest Byzantine monument in Calabria, while the impressively well-kept castle features frescoed undergrounds and stables.

Santa Severina is known for its oranges. Villagers are dubbed Aranciaru, meaning "orange-eaters" in local dialect. Oranges grown here are the pride of Calabria, due to the fertile soil and exceptional nutritional qualities. They're sought after in top restaurants and fruit shows.

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ALTOMONTE

The village of Altomonte is rich with rivers and hilly landscapes. There are abundant olive groves and native vineyards producing the balbini wines.

It’s called the "village of weddings", as couples from all over Italy and from abroad decide to celebrate the happy event here due to of its natural beauty. Altomonte is still waiting to be discovered by the rest of the world.

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FIUMEFREDDO BRUZIO

Fiumefreddo Bruzio is a medieval village which still preserves the characteristics of a forti ed village with surrounding walls. Taking its name from Flumen frigidum, or the river of cold water, it’s known for its fresh waters which ow from a rock a few kilometers from the sea.

Fiumefreddo lies on the precipice of the plateau that sweeps over the blue Tyrrhenian Sea which offers spectacular views.

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The origins of Fiumefreddo Bruzio are wrapped in the darkness of distant times tracing back to the Middle Ages, around the year 1000.

History and nature meet at the River di Mare that ows between the mountains before falling, creating waterfalls in a narrow and deep gorge, near the abbey of Fonte Laurato.

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WINE &

Cirò

Beer

DISTILLATES

Amaro

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PRODUCTS

OF CALABRIA

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Cosenza

Vibo

Reggio Calabria

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PIZZA

Cortone

Valentia

Catanzaro

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PA S TA

Homemade Pasta with Wild Mushrooms

Pasta with

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Fresh Anchovies

Pasta al Bergamotto

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B R E A D

S

S W E E T S

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OLIVES

OILS

ITALY IS WAITING FOR YOU!

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